I am a horrible butterfly mom...

So they hatched...well two of them did anyway. We've been eagerly waiting for our lovely painted lady butterflies to emerge from their chrysalides for the past week and today was the day...only, we totally missed it and I got a borderline frantic call from Miles after school today, telling me that the butterfly habitat was upside down in the living room and the butterflies looked dead. (we suspect Orange Boy the cat.) Oy vey, I say...but wait...ok...they weren't dead and I had M put them up high until I could get home from work to survey the damage. And there they were...two beautiful little butterflies clinging to the side of their habitat...they really are very pretty. Their habitat looked like an effing crime scene though...I know it's not blood, according to the instruction sheet, but I didn't know that until I read it after the fact...bottom line...I wasn't prepared for all that red, whatever it was. And then there was Skippy the reluctant, as I refer to him...still in his chrysalis. He was the last one to hang and cocoon...I thought that he was going to miss the boat but Sam said that he would do it when he was ready and the little bugger was right. So Skippy (or John rather...Sam renamed him) got tossed during the cat attack but who knows with that guy...I feel like he might just come out in the end...when he's ready of course. The instructions in the kit say that you can give your butterflies sugar water and observe them for a few days before releasing them, as long as the outside temp is warm enough. I decide that rather than risking another cat attack, we should give them (Cobra and Michael...Sam's names of choice again) their freedom straight away...and they were stoked to go...I didn't even have a chance to snap a shot of them with their wings spread. So off they went...one to the neighbor's flower bed and then the other up up and away...wait no...I think she landed somewhere in the grass. Cripes...did I set them free too soon? Ugh. So as I peer out the bathroom window a bit later, I see a bird hopping around in the back...hop hop...flutter flutter...shit...that bird is stalking our butterfly...and I hauled ass down the stairs and out the door, just in time to see Mr. Bird take off into the tree with his snack. I might as well have served the little lady up on a silver platter.

If Skippy ever hatches, we are hanging onto him for a few and quite possibly releasing him under cover of darkness.

Farewell friends...I'm sorry that your first post chrysalis world experiences involved crazy orange cats and hungry birds.

From Sunday to Saturday in record time...

This entire week is one big fat blur. It has been full, chaotic and jam packed with some really fun moments. It was back to school night at M's school on Wednesday night and then Sammy's on Thursday. The high school visit was a just for parents type of thing. Miles was up for the challenge of babysitting his crazy little brother and I did my best to prep the little guy for being on his best behavior...listening doesn't always come easy to our skeeter bug. I left behind my trusty iPad...just in case M needed a little help (Skeeter loves those Angry Birds)...hence the lack of high school pics in this post. It's definitely worth noting that M has some stellar teachers this year. His Spanish teacher rocks...a guy who seems to teach outside the box and I love that. I want to see this kid off on a trip to Spain someday! And really...they're all great...we are remarkably lucky to have our kids in such an amzing school system. Ev and I chatted about this as we toured Sam's school on Thursday night. There are pros and cons to living in a town as small as ours. At times, I do wish that there was a bit more diversity at school...but I really do love the size, as well as the remarkable teachers who do their best to embrace these kids and all of their differences and quirks. Both Evan and I agreed that for all of the things we might like to do someday...for ourselves individually, as well as for us, as a couple...we are very content to be here for our boys. So thankful that they are getting such a good, solid start.

Ok...I ran slightly off track there...back to school nights...M's was awesome on Wednesday and then it was Sammy's turn the next night only, we all got to go for that. He was so excited about showing us his school and room...I could hear him ask Evan if it was a holiday when he woke up on Thursday morning. I adore the fact that he can find that much joy and excitement in the little things that mean the most to him...I hope that he doesn't lose that, as he grows up. I wish that I could be as happy as this kid is all of the time...it's pretty great all around. So we toured the school in record time...Skeeter was a man on a mission with a list of all the things we just had to see. As he detoured off to the library with his Tuesday Grandma, Evan and I snuck Miles off to see a couple of his former teachers...first and second grade respectively...and although he is a teenager of few words, I could tell that he enjoyed the heck out of that. The looks on his teacher's faces and the "oh my goodness!" and "high school...you can't possibly be in high school!" remarks...he loved it. I think he enjoyed that little walk down memory lane, just as much as we all did. Such a great kid...I can't stress that enough.

So it was an insanely busy week, capped off this weekend by the annual Apple Squeeze festival. You'll see that Sam dressed up for the occasion. It was cloudy, but that didn't keep us from face painting, pony rides, bouncy house, caramel apples and fried dough. Below...some snaps from our very busy week, the squeeze and our three little chrysalides who we eagerly await to see emerge as painted ladies!

Sam leading the way to his classroom.

His butterfly masterpiece.

My favorite work of art.

One super proud kiddo.

Introducing us to "Good Listener Bob.". He's missing an ear...oh the irony.

Giving Tuesday Grandma the skinny on first grade.

Daddy is riveted.

Big brother duty.

A blast from the past.

Getting in some library time with a good pal

...and Tuesday Grandma.

A few of our favorite literary buddies.

A short playground romp before heading home.

Friday morning...my biggest and littlest loves...medium size love, already off to school.

A little cereal before the squeeze.

All dressed up and ready to go...I freakin love when he pulls out the clip on tie/t shirt combo!

Face painting stand, first and foremost.

One happy customer.

Parked by the cannon...

...for a little bit of this loveliness.

Hecks yeah fried dough!

Next stop...bouncy house.

And down he comes.

Gearing up for a little pony ride action.

He had a gigantic smile on his face the entire time.

A little rest in Sammy's favorite red chair...on our way home, caramel apple in hand.

See you next week ladies...we think anyway!

Joy in the ordinary...

I'm finding more and more that I take a huge amount of joy from the ordinary, day to day things in life. I snap a lot of pictures of ordinary (boring, in my kid's opinions) objects. I'm discovering that writing and keeping picture lists of things that I love, (Pinterest...all kinds of fun) paying close attention to the little details of our daily life, documenting moments that are most meaningful to our family...all of those things are remarkably enriching. French music and candy corn make me feel really really happy. A good haircut and I feel all pretty and girlie again. Loaded baked potato kettle chips with my lunch are divine. Trips to the library and apple picking...sublime. I love recognizing these little details, moments, objects, interests...it's almost a way of reminding myself that I am still me...a woman of substance and worth...on top of being a mother, wife, employee and so on. It's good to remember what I like the most as well as the things that make me feel the happiest. Below...some snaps of the tail end of our week, as well as another weekend spent with my sidekick. One little black pug who had some dental work this week (poor guy) and his sister pug who just couldn't understand all the fuss made over our little patient. She'll get it when it's her turn next week. A fond pizza party farewell to great granny who has headed back to Texas for the twilight of her life. Caterpillars, now fat and ready to cocoon...only one was hanging in an upside down J this morning when I took their picture...but now I see two! Library, lunch and drive by duck visits...apple picking, driveway discoveries, scooter riding and crisp fall weather to top it all off. Today was a very good day.